Page 230 of His Sunshine Baby

I was prepared for her to say no, but she just smiles at Estelle.

“You can ask Daddy or Auntie Nora and pick where you want to sleep, okay? Auntie Nora says you and Daddy can sleep at her house too if you want, but I think your cousin is tiring her out a lot…”

Estelle chuckles.

“James runs around a lot!”

“Yeah, and you saw Auntie Nora’s tummy? She is going to have another baby!”

“I know! I will have another cousin!”

“That’s right, baby star, but until the baby is born, it’s better to let Auntie Nora rest, okay?”

“Okay! I can go and sleep at Daddy’s house then?”

“Yes, if Daddy is okay with it.”

Estelle turns to me, excited.

“Daddy, can I sleep at your house tonight? The one in the sky?”

I smile.

“Of course, baby.”

She smiles brightly at me. I’m so grateful she feels safe at my place… and it seems to show Elena I’ve been doing alright as a dad so far. The two of them exchange smiles, and Elena caresses her hair. Something in her smile seems forced, though. Is she in a lot of pain? Or trying to act tough for Estelle?

“Mommy, when will you get out of this hospital?”

“Um... When the doctors say I can, baby star.”

Estelle frowns, a bit disappointed with her answer. She inevitably glances down at her mom’s injuries, especially her arm.

“Does it hurt very bad?”

“It’s okay, baby star.”

It’s probably not as okay as she wants to make it sound. For Elena to be faking smiles and allowing her daughter to see her wired to a hospital bed, her injuries must be greater than she’s showing…

“Do you want me to blow on it? Like you did when I scratched my knee? It really worked, you know!”

“If you want, baby star. You’ll give Mommy a kiss, so I’ll be all better?”

“Of course!”

Damn, I could just melt from watching the two of them together. They hug, with a closeness I can only watch from the sidelines, making me a little bit jealous… until I catch Elena looking at me over Estelle’s shoulder. We stare at each other, for just a few seconds, until loud steps come from the corridor.

“Elena! Elena! Babe, oh my babe…”

Her friend Daniel just barged in, looking panicked. He runs to her, but Elena grabs his collar right before he jumps on her.

“Daniel Lewis, if you hurt me with one of your herculean hugs, I’ll kick your butt as soon as I can stand, you hear me?”

To my surprise, he just laughs.

“Moon Goddess, it’s really you… Oh babe, I missed you.”

The two of them hug, Estelle caught in between. I’m feeling a bit out of place now, but I just stay quiet, waiting.

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